Food · Liverpool · United Kingdom
What to eat in Liverpool
The dishes, drinks and food experiences that define Liverpool, and where locals actually eat them.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Peter Tarleton, CC BY-SA 2.0
Quick answer
Start with Scouse, Blind scouse and Wet Nelly. The Philharmonic Dining Rooms on Hope Street, with its mosaic and carved-wood interior and famous marble urinals, and other ornate Victorian pubs in the centre make a historic evening out. Book popular restaurants on Bold Street, Hope Street and the Albert Dock for Friday and Saturday nights.
Key facts
- Signature dish
- Scouse
- Vegetarian-friendly picks
- 4
- Tipping
- Tipping is not expected in pubs.
- Food experiences
- 4
9 foods to try
Dish
1.Scouse
A slow-cooked stew of beef or lamb with potatoes, carrots and onions, traditionally served with pickled red cabbage or beetroot and crusty bread. The city's sailors brought it from northern Europe, and it gave Liverpudlians their nickname.
Where: Traditional pubs and cafés around the city centre, especially in winter; some pubs serve it as the dish of the day.
Dish · Vegetarian
2.Blind scouse
The meat-free version of scouse, made with root vegetables and potatoes, historically eaten when meat was too expensive and now a regular vegetarian option.
Where: Cafés and pubs that serve scouse often offer a blind version alongside.
Dessert · Vegetarian
3.Wet Nelly
A dense, syrupy bread pudding of soaked bread, dried fruit and spice, a Liverpool take on Nelson's cake. It is a traditional bakery treat served warm or cold.
Where: Traditional bakeries and some cafés; it is not on every menu, so ask.
Dish
4.Fish and chips
Battered cod or haddock with thick-cut chips, often with mushy peas, gravy or curry sauce in the north-west, eaten from the paper or in a sit-down chippy.
Where: Chip shops across the city and in seaside spots such as New Brighton across the Mersey.
Dish
5.Cantonese dim sum and roast meats
Liverpool's long-established Chinese community serves dim sum, crispy roast duck, char siu pork and noodle soups in restaurants that have been family-run for decades.
Where: Chinatown around Nelson Street, Berry Street and Duke Street.
Dish
6.Potted shrimps
Tiny brown shrimps from Morecambe Bay and the Lancashire coast, cooked in spiced butter and set in pots, eaten on toast. Southport, up the coast, has a long shrimping tradition.
Where: Seafood restaurants and gastropubs in Liverpool and Southport.
Street food · Vegetarian
7.Bold Street international food
Bold Street packs cafés and restaurants serving Middle Eastern, Indian, Vietnamese, Spanish and vegan food into a single walkable street, making it the city's easiest place for a varied, good-value meal.
Where: Bold Street and the side streets running off it towards Seel Street.
Drink · Vegetarian
8.Cask ale and craft beer
Liverpool has a strong pub culture, with Victorian pubs serving cask ale from hand pumps and newer craft breweries brewing in the Baltic Triangle.
Where: Historic pubs such as the Philharmonic Dining Rooms on Hope Street, and brewery taprooms in the Baltic Triangle.
Breakfast
9.Full English breakfast
Bacon, sausage, eggs, beans, tomatoes, mushrooms, toast and often black pudding, served in cafés all morning and a classic way to start a day of sightseeing.
Where: Independent cafés across the centre and around Lark Lane.
Food experiences
Victorian pub crawl
The Philharmonic Dining Rooms on Hope Street, with its mosaic and carved-wood interior and famous marble urinals, and other ornate Victorian pubs in the centre make a historic evening out.
Food halls in the Baltic Triangle
The Baltic Market and similar halls gather independent street-food traders and bars under one roof, with long shared tables and DJs at weekends.
Afternoon tea
Grand hotels and tearooms in the centre serve afternoon tea with sandwiches, scones, clotted cream and cakes; some do themed or river-view versions.
Chinatown dim sum lunch
Weekend dim sum in Chinatown's long-running Cantonese restaurants is a local tradition for families.
Quick bites and street food
- Bold Street international food — Bold Street and the side streets running off it towards Seel Street.
- Full English breakfast — Independent cafés across the centre and around Lark Lane.
Vegetarian options
Of the 9 foods in this guide, 4 are usually vegetarian: Blind scouse, Wet Nelly, Bold Street international food and Cask ale and craft beer. Check preparation with staff, as stocks and fats vary.
Eating out: tips and etiquette
- Book popular restaurants on Bold Street, Hope Street and the Albert Dock for Friday and Saturday nights.
- Pub kitchens usually serve food until about 9pm; order and pay at the bar.
- Tap water is free on request in restaurants and pubs.
- Pre-theatre set menus around Hope Street are good value before shows at the Everyman and the Philharmonic Hall.
- Hotel prices and restaurant demand spike on match days and around the Grand National; plan ahead.
Tipping
Tipping is not expected in pubs. In restaurants, about 10–12.5% is normal for good service; check whether a discretionary service charge has already been added.
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| La | Mate (Scouse slang) |
| Boss | Great, excellent |
| Sound | OK, fine, good |
| Ta-ra | Goodbye |
| Made up | Delighted |
Questions travellers ask
+What food is Liverpool famous for?
Scouse, Blind scouse, Wet Nelly and Fish and chips. A slow-cooked stew of beef or lamb with potatoes, carrots and onions, traditionally served with pickled red cabbage or beetroot and crusty bread.
+Is Liverpool good for vegetarians?
Several local staples are meat-free, including Blind scouse, Wet Nelly and Bold Street international food.
+Do you tip in restaurants in Liverpool?
Tipping is not expected in pubs. In restaurants, about 10–12.5% is normal for good service; check whether a discretionary service charge has already been added.